Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Weed, Indian Paintbrush
Butterfly Weed, Indian Paintbrush
Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 9A
Height 18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Spread 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Hardy range 3A to 9A
Height 18" to 30" / 45cm to 75cm
Spread 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate Average
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Orange, red and yellow
Bloom Time Summer
The flowers are showy, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Bloom Time Summer
The flowers are showy, suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
This plant tolerates some drought and a little salt.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Green
This plant has attractive foliage.
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
Seeds will be dispersed in late summer or early fall, and offsets will emerge in the fall at the base of the mother plant. Asclepias has a large taproot, making it difficult to transplant. This plant is so late to break dormancy in the spring, one might wonder if it made it through the winter. If interested in crafts, the fresh flowers from this plant can be used to make yellow dye. Plants serve provide nectar for butterflies and are hosts for butterfly larvae.
Plant with Solidago, Heliopsis, Helianthus and Penstemon.
Cut back during growth periods to encourage a fuller plant.
Seeds will be dispersed in late summer or early fall, and offsets will emerge in the fall at the base of the mother plant. Asclepias has a large taproot, making it difficult to transplant. This plant is so late to break dormancy in the spring, one might wonder if it made it through the winter. If interested in crafts, the fresh flowers from this plant can be used to make yellow dye. Plants serve provide nectar for butterflies and are hosts for butterfly larvae.
Plant with Solidago, Heliopsis, Helianthus and Penstemon.
Cut back during growth periods to encourage a fuller plant.
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